Their standing up for rights does not tarnish nation's image: Shashi Tharoor to PT Usha on wrestlers' protest criticism

PT Usha has strongly slammed the public protest by wrestlers over alleged sexual harassment by Wrestling Federation India boss Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.

In his reaction to Usha's criticism, Tharoor tweeted: "Dear @PTUshaOfficial, it is does not become you to disparage the justified protests of your fellow sportspersons in the face of repeated & wanton sexual harassment. Their standing up for their rights does not 'tarnish the image of the nation'. Ignoring their concerns - instead of hearing them out, investigating them & taking just action - does."

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya, and Deepak Punia have been protesting against Singh and demanding the government take action on their complaint.

They had written to Usha to act on the matter urgently.

Usha criticized the wrestlers for not waiting for the report of a committee that is looking into their allegations to come out before deciding to sit on a public protest in Delhi.

She said the protest "amounts to indiscipline".

"The players should not have protested on the streets. They should have at least waited for the report of the committee. What they have done is not good for the game and the country. It is a negative approach," Usha said.

Responding to Usha, the wrestlers said they were hurt by her comments as they looked up to her for support.

"We feel hurt by PT Usha's comment. She is not supporting us despite being a woman herself. What indiscipline have we done? We are sitting here peacefully. If we had got justice, we would not have done this," wrestler Sakshi Malik told reporters today.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat alleged that he dialed Usha to discuss their matter, but she did not answer his call. "... We don't know whether she is under some kind of pressure," he said.

Bajrang Punia said they have been waiting for three months for justice.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had earlier formed the committee to look into the allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its chief.

The committee submitted its report on April 5. But the ministry has not yet made public the findings of the six-member committee.